Thank you for beta'ing, MsSchneeheide! Damn, October already? Sorry...got caught up with Lucifer! Anyway...
He just knows it's her.
She must have been out here for ages; her hair is matted and her face red and dirty from the elements. The sky is overcast, gloomy, and foreboding, threatening rain. Trees blow back and forth in the howling wind. Being out in this awful weather is a nightmare for anyone.
"Blanca...pero ¿dónde están sus hijas...y sus zapatos? She must be freezing..." Diablo lowers the window and cups his gloved hands around his mouth. He can't get out of his truck, unfortunately. "Blanca!"
Where are her kids...and her shoes?
She barely glances his way; her attention is focused on what's in front of her. She trudges along the pavement and almost trips and falls walking into the street, making his heart squeeze. She must be too far to hear him. "Fuck," he hisses under his breath. She makes it to the other side safely, but Diablo has no idea how he's actually going to catch up with her. Literally traveling on her own two feet must be incredibly painful and he's glad that she's sitting on the sidewalk and putting on another pair of shoes and socks after brushing her feet off.
By the time he gets out of traffic, she's gone.
She'd never imagined running away from Diablo, but she has to. Blanca can't let him look at her like this, scraggly haired and filthy. She wants to clean up as soon as possible before he sees her again, that is, if he decides to keep searching for her. Suddenly, as she's about to cross another street, she falls forward on her rickety cart and her bottles and cans roll out from a torn trash bag. "Ouch!" she yelps as something sharp slices through her worn-out jeans. She can barely move at the moment. "Ay dios mío..." Groaning, she lifts herself off the cart that's on its side now. An old man is picking up her dropped items while an elderly woman sets the cart upright. Her hair is dyed reddish-brown while his is gray.
"My, that's quite a spill! You gonna be all right?" the lady asks in a Southern twang.
Blanca nods. "Gracias." She holds out her ripped garbage sack so the guy can put the runaway bottles and cans back inside. She's given up on being too proud to ask strangers for help; she'd rather them do it without her saying anything.
"It appears as if you're badly injured. Does it hurt to bend that knee?"
"A little, ma'am." Blanca inspects the aching area. There's a bloody scrape. "I've got gauze with me to patch it up, though."
"I appreciate what you're doing for our environment. Here..." He pulls two tens out of his wallet. Blanca's eyes widen in astonishment.
"Bone, we can pay her to work in our garden, you don't need to-"
"Yeah, I've got a job, it's fine."
He shrugs and hands it to Blanca anyway. "What's twenty dollars, Frieda? One time out of our whole lives."
"Mm-hm, you'll probably never see me again. Espera, Frida? Like Frida Kahlo?" Blanca asks in interest as she shoves the cash into her pocket. "Gracias, señor."
"Different spelling, but it sounds the same, yes," Frieda says. She scrutinizes Blanca. "Are you positive you ain't gonna use that money on drugs?"
Blanca nods. "I only smoke occasionally, but nothing other than that. Honest."
"What happened to your kids?" Bone asks.
"They were taken from me. Do you know Officer G. Mendez? He's tall with black spiky hair and a matching mustache...he has 'em. One is sixteen, five feet two, and the other is four...she'd probably go up to your waist."
"Oh, you poor girl." Frieda gazes at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry...we've never seen him before in our lives. I hope you find your babies."
"Thank you both for your assistance, but I'm running late. The recycling place is going to close soon." She waves at them with a smile once the sign signals for her to walk. They return the gesture.
"Hey! Up and at 'em!" a gruff voice commands. Blanca jumps awake when she feels someone kick her side. Disoriented and startled, she gasps in and out rapidly as her heart begins beating frantically. "You can't sleep in the library! That's called loitering."
"I'm sorry..." She rubs her bleary eyes open; it's still so dark. To her relief, it's not Dean. The man staring down at her is white and extremely tall, but he has a thick mustache and spiky black hair, whereas Dean is bald and his face shaven. "Shit!" She nudges Maritza and Raiza when she realizes he's a cop and they need to leave the premises immediately. His nametag on his blue uniform reads G. Mendez. "Lo siento mucho, officer, we're homeless, and-"
"I don't care. Get the fuck outta here before the librarian arrives. It's three in the morning, so you still got time."
Maritza groans. "¿Qué pasó, Mamí?"
"Mama, I'm tired!" Raiza whines.
Blanca yawns. "Necesitamos irnos."
We need to go.
"Noooo, it's cold out there!" Maritza scrambles to her feet and peers at the policeman innocently, her brown eyes filling with tears. "Por favor, let us stay..." She pouts and puts her hands together in prayer motion. "We'll be good...we were already quiet..." Her voice is almost seductive and it disturbs Blanca.
"Mari, it's okay, let's just do what he says...we'll find someplace else..."
"Mommy, I wanna sleep!" Raiza cries, hugging Blanca around her waist. She packs up her things with one hand and holds her youngest child with the other.
"I know, bebecita, we will..."
Maritza whimpers and rubs her arms up and down. "It's so freezin' out there...Officer Mendez, if you have a shred of humanity, please..."
He chews on a toothpick, reminding Blanca a lot of Dean. "It's no use beggin', girlie. You three are stone-cold busted. Now, I have a right mind to take you and your sister to Child Protective Services while your mother rots in jail or pays a huge-ass fine."
"Nah, she don't belong in there!" Maritza protests, getting in front of Blanca and Raiza. Her tone is more desperate now.
He taps his chin and smirks. "Well, I suppose I could let this slide-"
"Oh, gracias-"
"Not so fast," he interrupts Blanca. "You're still in big trouble. Say goodbye to your children, since you obviously can't take care of 'em." He snatches Raiza from her and then pulls Maritza to him by her wrist.
"No!" Blanca shrieks as her girls scream for her. He drags them away as her pounding heart shatters into smithereens. She chases him and Maritza tries to wrestle out of his grasp, but it's no use. He pushes her to the side and she rolls over a few times on the cement. Suddenly, she's dizzy and she can't move. She's trembling, almost blacking out.
"Mama!" Raiza wails.
"Mamí, help us!" Maritza chimes in shakily.
"Babies...mis hijas..." She whimpers as she gets to a standing position. He's manhandling Maritza into his vehicle and keeping a tight hold on Raiza. She can barely see what's in front of her, even though streetlights are shining. "I love you, I'm coming...¡las salvaré chicas, lo prometo!"
My daughters...I'll save you girls, I promise!
"Gimme your gloves, or I cut off your hands!" another homeless woman hollers at her, waving a knife at Blanca. She seems very mentally ill. "Right now, cunt!"
Blinking and terrified, Blanca does as she says. She knows this bitch means business. She has other pairs, anyway. Thankfully, these ones aren't what Diablo has given her.
She's panting as soon as she gets to where cans and bottles are being recycled for coins. Once she turns her stash in, she only gets a measly five dollars. With the twenty from Bone, she has enough for food and a subway ticket. Only, she doesn't know where she'd go. She wishes she'd asked Maritza where she works. She's run into Allie once, and the tween is also worried about Raiza, but has no idea of her location. She would call the police, but she doesn't trust them. They can lead her right back to Dean, and he will make sure she never finds the girls again. Besides that, even if someone agreed to exchange money with her so she can use a payphone with coins, or even let her dial from their fancy iPhones or Palm Pilots, she doesn't know Charles' or Donaldson's number by heart. Anyone can answer to nine-one-one.
After getting their pastries, the girls and women get back in the car. Debbie pulls out of the driveway. She keeps going down the dirt road and then merges onto the highway.
"Ceci, you okay back there, sweetie?" she asks after a moment of silence.
"Mm-hm. I was more annoyed with how that bitch was being homophobic towards you and Nita, and that asshole commented that you're just fun to look at. We're seven years into the second millennium!"
"I oughta sue him. The woman seemed more uneducated than anything," Nita says.
"She's a sex worker and he's her pimp," Flaca blurts out. The other girls stare at her incredulously. "Um, once when me and Mari were comin' back from Elena and Ceci's, they were in the backseat of a car with other disturbing creatures and the driver asked us to join 'em." Her friends and the ladies gasp.
"Oh, fuck! Girl, why didn't either of you say shit?"
"Cat, they weren't threatening violence or nothin' if we didn't comply. It was just...ick." Flaca sticks her tongue out and then brings it back in.
Daisy frowns. "Solicitation is illegal. You shoulda called the cops."
"We...we didn't know," Flaca admits sheepishly.
"Now, you do," Katie murmurs. "So, let's inform my dad of this."
Daya is still going to town on her treat and then she licks her fingers clean. "They didn't offer their services, so that's probably unnecessary."
Ceci wrinkles her nose. "It should be reported that Charlie Coates made a pass at me...and that he's a pimp. He gave his real name...makes our job so much easier."
"I love when people are idiots!" Elena smirks and places her folded hands behind her head. Everyone murmurs in agreement.
"We'll take care of it, girls, don't you worry," Debbie reassures them.
"Yes, just focus on being teenagers, okay?" Nita chimes in.
"Mm-hm," the others respond.
After a while, Blanca decides to ask a few people, but they don't seem to trust her. She's been knocking on doors, desperately grabbing individuals and asking if they've seen Officer Mendez and her children. They probably think she's a scam artist. What hurts the most, is when they yank their children away from her like she's the plague, saying she's crazy, dangerous, and jacked up on drugs. She hasn't felt this lonely since Dean. Her other homeless friends are visiting their families.
Her daughters are completely lost and dread settles into the pit of Blanca's stomach, for she fears the worst. It's getting to be dusk now.
They're dead already. They're being sold for sex...
Blanca throws up on the pavement and sobs as she clutches Raiza's Dora plushie and Maritza's makeup kit.
"I miss Mommy...I want Mommy back!" Raiza blubbers in Maritza's arms as they lay together on their shared bed. She's sucking her thumb. "Maaaaamaaaa!"
"I know, baby, I know," Maritza murmurs as she holds her little sister tight and strokes her curls. "She'll find us, I just know it..."
Pornstache tsks. "You're lucky, sugar tits, most siblings don't get to stay together!"
"This is unacceptable!" Maritza snaps, covering Raiza's tiny ears. "We're in the bedroom of a brothel. It looks like an orphanage! This place is so dreary and disgusting, I-"
"I gave you a home. Be happy about it," he says through gritted teeth.
"You took us away from our mother."
He cups her chin, but she pushes his hand away. "She wasn't good to you. Here, you have a home. Shelter, warmth, food, you catch my drift? Most of all...money!" He cackles. "Who could turn that shit down?"
Maritza glares at him. "You treat Raiza like Cinderella here."
"There's still the option of Pete Nichols screwin' her, he's the only classiest and richest man who actually wants that brat. He just got outta jail, he could use a good time."
"Don't even fucking think about it!" Maritza snarls, hugging Raiza protectively. She kisses the small girl's cheek. "Make sure that asshole stays away from her. Do you understand me?"
Mendez chuckles slowly. "I'd just stop complaining if I were you."
"Whoa, Daddy, what-"
"Don't look at 'em, keep walking."
"Ya down for some fun?" the blonde, pimple-faced prostitute asks. The brunette next to her giggles as she spins around childishly, almost teetering in her high-heeled boots. They're both stoned, he can tell. Their hair is greasy, but dolled up, their teeth are yellow and crooked-but not in that cute Cynthia Nixon way-and they're dressed in blue winter coats and short, black dresses. Even if they were attractive, he still wouldn't go for them. He's got only one woman on his mind and he's not desperate or rich.
Diablo sighs with annoyance as they skip up to him, blocking his path. "Nah, I'm good, thanks." He manages a polite grin as he skirts around them. They catch up right away.
"Come on, I gotta fuck another colored man! I do it every ten years. It started in high school, with that blackie, Clarence!"
"Angie! That's not how you get 'em."
"Excuse me." He continues walking, but faster this time, pulling a gaping Laronne along with him.
"Hey, handsome, we're sorry!" They run around him and jog backward. He wonders how they're doing that in such uncomfortable looking shoes. The racist girl-Angie-chuckles as she grabs his crotch and squeezes painfully. He winces and groans out loud as he twists away from her. "Sure you don't-"
"I'm positive!" he says stiffly. "Please leave me alone. There's wealthy men out there who are pining for love, but that's not me. I've got a lady and barely nothin' in my wallet."
"Whatever!"
He feels someone slap his bottom and try to jerk his pants down, but he keeps them in place. "I told you to stop!" he shouts, alerting some people around them. "Now that's enough."
"Hey, man, you alright?"
"Yep!" Diablo throws the passerby a thumbs-up.
Angie hi-fives the blonde. "Good one, Leanne!" They both cackle hysterically as he and Laronne practically rush to get away from them.
"They were creepy, looking at me like I was meat!" Laronne says, clinging to Diablo while running.
"I know, buddy. There's types like that all over the city. Best to stay quiet around strangers, alright? You never know what they'll do or how weird they are."
He nods. "Okay." As the sky grows darker by the minute and they go up and down alleys, he puts on a bright headlamp to guide them, like he's been doing for the past few weeks.
"So, there was this big, bearded dude who didn't want our services," Angie mopes. "He looked like he had a huge cock, and he was Spanish."
"There'll be others, Angie."
"Yeah, but who would turn us away?"
"I can think of a few people," Nicky snaps. She gestures at Angie. "You're a fuckin' rapist! You've said so yourself."
Leanne glowers as Brook strides past, smiling. "Something funny, Pocahontas?"
"I literally didn't say anything to you," Brook snaps. "I wanted to take the high road and not let anything rude come out of my mouth, but you're trying to start something. I realize now that arguing with you is pointless because you're stupid. You spray god damn shaving cream around your bed. I mean, where is the sense in that?" Smirking, she continues off and sits down at the piano.
"She's gonna get hers one day," Leanne practically growls. "I'll cut off her perfect hair, then she'll see."
Pennsatucky folds her arms across her chest. "Okay, so she's annoying, but I don't think that's right."
"Me neither," Maritza, Nicky, and Shani chorus.
Angie cackles. "It'll be hilarious, though!"
"Thanks!" Leanne high-fives Angie and then they exit the room.
"Hellman will never allow this," Pennsatucky grumbles. "I'm gonna report it. I'm sick of their shenanigans!"
"Who are you talkin' about?" Humps chooses that moment to come in. He has a sick grin plastered on his face.
"Yikes, now she's done it," Shani whispers.
"What?" Maritza asks quietly.
"Oh, just watch. You'll see," Nicky mumbles.
Pennsatucky twirls a pigtail around her finger. "Eri and Megan. They fight like Melanie's divorced parents used to. It's driving us all crazy!"
"Where are they now?" Humps asks tightly.
"I dunno...but I can't wait for Eri to take that bitch out. She's got them Japanese martial arts skills-"
"Find them!" he hisses at her and she scampers off. "You cunts ready to watch a showdown?"
They nod obediently and Maritza shivers at the scary glint in his eyes. "Didn't Doggett just say that Hellman forbids this kinda shit, though?"
"Don't worry about it, Lolita," Humps growls in her ear and she flinches. "Ever seen a bitch boxing match?"
She shakes her head no.
"It's good and bloody, I promise. You'll enjoy it. We'll get Hellman to fuck one of his sluts that don't come here, so he won't have any idea of what's goin' on. Your sister's gonna have a lot of scrubbin' to do when it's over!"
Nicky and Shani gaze at her sympathetically. Maritza closes her eyes. She wants to throw up. "Can't I do it instead of her? She's seen enough..."
"You can help her," Humps allows, but then he guffaws. "Just kidding! This is her job! You don't want her to participate in the activities that you do, then she needs something else to occupy her time with! She won't learn shit if she has assistance, you're well aware of that, right?"
She glares at him. "Yes."
"Now, none of that attitude, sugar," he says in a chilling way.
"Ready for my threesome!" a chubby white guy announces.
"Jesus, Luschek..." Nicky rolls her eyes and takes Shani's hand as she pulls her up. "Come on, darling, let's get this shit over with." They exchange a group hug with Maritza before leaving.
"There's a customer here with AIDS, so what you'll be required to do is dance in a cage for his pleasure. We don't want you getting sick and riddled with disease!" Humps is dragging her along now.
She rubs at her tired eyes and gulps. "Yes, sir."
"You sure you got chlamydia? I don't know if I'd trust Lorna Morello...they call her Nurse Ratched like in One Flew the Cuckoo's Nest."
"It's not like she hands out lobotomies, but yeah, I can see what they mean." Alex scoffs. "I'm positive. Her sister and Dr. Burset both confirmed it, so...but hey, good thing it's survivable! An adventure, which is what I crave."
Michelle blows out a huge breath and squeezes Alex's hand. "Sorry, babe...you got it from me, I bet you anything. I'll still get tested, even though I was when I started to work in the sex industry, and Piper, Digger, and Sylvia should, too."
"Yeah..."
"Is this going to affect our relationship?"
Alex cups the shorter girl's face and pecks her lips. "Darling, no...I love you, okay? It's not your fault one of those dickheads chose not to use a condom."
Michelle smiles into the kiss. "Gracias, querida...te amo mucho también."
They snuggle on the couch and Alex caresses her hair. "You're right...this is totally the lesbian version of Pretty Woman."
"I can't thank you enough for getting me that job at Starbucks!"
"You're so welcome, my girl."
"I wish we could double date with Nicky and Shani...I miss 'em, yo."
Alex's hand stills in Michelle's locks. "Who?" The first name sends a jolt through her.
"My friends in the brothel. What's it to ya?"
"Nicky is a prostitute? Nicky Nichols? Short blonde in all the missing person posters? I never even noticed her..."
"I think that's her, why? Did you know her?"
"Mm-hm, we gotta tell Red, she's been searching everywhere. The woman is like her daughter and I babysat Nicky when she was a kid!"
Michelle sits up and scratches underneath her red knitted beanie. "She said she doesn't want Red to be aware of her secret life. Who the fuck knows if Red will hurt her? Nicky doesn't trust anyone except her girls in the ring. Even if I'm not there anymore, I gotta be loyal."
"Sweetheart, you don't know Red."
"I've met her a few times, she seems nice, but...I got a feeling Nicky won't be accepted back too quickly. She could also get Shani deported!"
"No, no, she would never call ICE on anyone innocent," Alex promises as she adjusts her glasses. "Also, she loves Nicky so much, she misses her...she sometimes even cries herself to sleep thinking about her lost baby. She's told my mom this before. She would take that girl back in a heartbeat. She's even got the mob behind her, so it's not like your pimps could get revenge."
"I wanna believe you, mi amor." Thousands of emotions swim around in Michelle's brown eyes. "It's just...she's so fucked up. How can Red, like...fix that? Her own mother couldn't."
Alex squeezes her girlfriend's hands and kisses her knuckles. "With a lot of patience and tender, lovin' care. Marka's an idiot, but Red isn't. You gotta trust me on this one. Please, baby. Let's just call her up."
"Okay...fine." Michelle says finally.
"In school, I wrote a short story called The Hell Bent Florist, using Red as my inspiration, since she gardens a lot," Tricia announces, grinning. "The flowers talk and have feelings...they're stuck in the sink, waiting for their stems to be cut, and they can't get out! Their names are Violet, Rose, Lily, Jasmine, Lavender, Holly, Ivy, Daisy, Heather, and Zinnia!"
Galina and Lida chuckle in unison. "Oh, you have quite the imagination, my girl!" Galina ruffles the blonde's hair and kisses her cheek. "I can't wait until the spring so the flowers can bloom again."
"Me neither. Vasily and I are marrying then, too," Lida murmurs with a smile. She pulls Tricia closer and starts French braiding her hair.
The phone rings and Galina stands up from the couch that she, Lida, and Tricia have just been relaxing on. She picks up almost immediately. "Hello?"
"Hi, Red...it's Alex."
"Oh? What's wrong, honey?" The younger lady sounds choked up.
"I...I think Michelle might know where Nicky is. We both do, actually."
Galina almost drops the device. She gasps, stunned. "What? Please, God, just tell me where she is!"
"New York City. In the back of the Indigo Club. She works-ow, what the fuck? Sorry. Um...yeah, she's with her girlfriend Shani and they've got dangerous bosses, and you'll need your mafia buddies..."
She really doesn't want to speak to Dmitri or have anything to do with her former business, but she'll do whatever it takes to save Nicky. "Okay, but I think it's best if I just ask my ex-husband, Claudette, Frieda, Bone, and Rosa to help take these pig fuckers down. The Russians who Dmitri and I used to work for are plain evil and would kidnap and enslave the poor girls. Thank you so much for telling me. I really appreciate it!"
"No problem. I wanna reconnect with her, too. Here's my love."
"So, I gotta tell you this...Nicky is so embarrassed of herself that she doesn't want to face you, Shani is terrified of her parents and the repercussions she'll suffer, and they're both ashamed to face Karla," Michelle informs her. "You need to promise you won't judge either of their lifestyle choices. You're there to help and guide 'em like their folks never did. Is that understood?"
"Yes, I swear on my life! I'm just so happy they're alive!" Relief washes over Galina and she beams so hard her cheeks hurt. "I'll see you later."
"Okay, bye!" Alex calls out.
"Adiós," Michelle echoes her in Spanish.
Galina clutches the phone to her chest, still feeling elated. "We've got some work to do! I just found out about Nicky and Shani's location!"
"Oh, thank goodness," Lida murmurs, patting her heart. "Are they okay?"
"I hope so, but it doesn't sound like they're safe. I'll need Dmitri and my cronies."
Tricia squeals excitedly. "Cool, I've always wanted to meet the big sister I never had! Where?"
"The back of a nightclub in the city...Indigo."
"Can I go with you?"
"You're staying here with Lida. That place is way too seedy and I don't want you to get hurt."
"Ma!" Tricia protests.
"It's okay, Galina, I'll take her around the other parts of the city. I'll even drag Vasily with us."
Galina sighs loudly. "Okay," she gives in.
"Yay!" Tricia cheers.
She rings up her ex-husband and explains the situation. Since his boss, Ganya, and his co-workers are in Russia, they'll never have to know about what Dmitri is helping her with. She then calls her physically toughest friends and she's instructed to stay home until they can escort her, Lida, and Tricia to the city. Vasily and his fiancée will entertain the girl while Red and the others check things out at around eleven-thirty the next morning.
She hopes Nicky and Shani can make it for one more night.
The sex workers and Daddy watch on in horror as a red-faced Leanne punches Brook over and over. The poor girl chokes up blood while turning her head to the side. Even Donuts and Pornstache look disturbed. "Just kill me, what are you waiting for?" she begs, her whole body twitching involuntarily as she whimpers.
"I'm trying to, ya stupid yellow chink!" Leanne shouts as she violently drives her foot into Brook's stomach a few times.
"Ay diós," Maritza whispers, her heart skipping a few beats. It's too much for her to witness and she's just relieved that Raiza is at the toy store with Vee and Hellman. As shady as those two seem, they aren't pedophiles and they're not interested in hurting the little one. She, Nicky, and Shani stand up, prepared to stop the fighting. Pennsatucky, appearing to be guilty as hell, is a few steps ahead of them.
Humps cackles along with Dixon while Leanne swings her fist into Brook's mouth one last time. She's soon lying motionless on the floor. Pennsatucky, Nicky, Shani, and Maritza quickly drag a snarling Leanne off of Brook. They push her away and Pennsatucky feels Brook's limp wrist.
"Still got a pulse, but she's unconscious." The short brunette glances up at her pimp worriedly. "She needs a hospital! She just got knocked out, she's all swollen and bruised..."
He nods and strokes his goatee. "I know. Uh...just get her far away from here, someone will find her and help, but it won't lead to this location."
"God damn it, this place is hell." Nicky shakes her head as she, Pennsatucky, Maritza, and Shani put their coats on and kneel down to lift Brook. "You don't know that. She could die. Just call Madam Vee and explain what happened, she'll get Eri some medical attention, but still won't give a shit about the smackdown."
Pornstache sighs. "Fine."
"The winner is Megan!" Angie shouts happily with a crazed expression in her eyes. "You beat her up good!"
Leanne grins. "Fuck yes!" She and Angie embrace.
"Alright, now that's twenty bucks, pay up." Humps wiggles his fingers toward Dixon, who groans and gives him the money.
"That right there?" Shani mutters, pursing her lips. "Nauseating."
Maritza scowls at the animals. "I'm surprised none of us haven't puked already. We probably will later."
"Fuckin' monsters," Nicky grumbles as the four girls make their way towards the exit of the brothel. They're going to carry Brook to a nearby alley. Her arms are draped around Pennsatucky's and Nicky's shoulders while Maritza has her legs. Shani is behind them, holding Brook's head up so it doesn't loll back. It's eight at night and dark, so street lights will lead their way.
"Eh, it's just how some men are," Pennsatucky says. "Anyway, less talkin', more walkin'!" She pulls the door open for them and they head out into the frigid air. The downpour has miraculously stopped, although a bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, and thunder rumbles and booms.
"She's like...light," Maritza comments. "Good thing she ain't heavy." They're all wearing long-sleeved crop tops with high-waisted jeans, but it's way too cold to leave Brook out here. "Yo, let's bundle her up in our coats so she doesn't freeze or get frostbite." She's already taking hers off.
They do as Maritza suggests. "What a mess. I hope some guardian angels find her instead of Vee," Shani mutters with a sniffle.
"Yeah, and Leanne dies a slow, painful death," Maritza chimes in bitterly. "I know you're the bottom bitch, Penns, and they love you and shit, but how could you let this happen? You're as bad as Daddy!" she blurts out. "How the fuck dare you!" Her voice is strong, despite it trembling. She shivers and she can see all of their breaths, including her own.
"I'm sorry, okay? I feel awful...I had no idea she couldn't...I..." Pennsatucky stammers. "I wanted to see Leanne go down, and I thought Brook was able to kick her ass."
"Oh, just because she's Japanese?" Nicky rolls her teary eyes. "She doesn't even like Hello Kitty or bubble tea. Why do you believe stereotypes, you fucking redneck? I really should hit you."
"Hey, didn't I help you through detox? I wove you a multicolored basket to throw up in!"
"It didn't work," Nicky snaps as they lay her on the concrete in an alley under an overhang. Pennsatucky brushes Brook's hair back from her forehead and touches a few lacerations on her cheek. "We shouldn't just dump her here, by the way...someone should stay with her in case she wakes up."
"Whoever it is would be a suspect," Maritza points out. "I ain't about to be blamed by the pigs for shit I didn't even do."
"Yeah, I can't go back to Egypt," Shani murmurs sadly.
"Looks like it's you or me, Nichols."
"This is your fault because you're a racist dumbass," the blonde states flatly. She points at Pennsatucky. "Watch over her."
Pennsatucky's shoulders sag as she sits against the brick wall with her head in her hands. Maritza, Shani, and Nicky link arms as they stride away from her and Brook.
Meanwhile, thunder rolls and rain starts pelting down on Blanca. Her hand continues to sting from when she cut it on a dirty, broken beer bottle in a trash can. That's when she knew to stop digging through the garbage, wash her injury in a porta-potty, and wrap it with gauze. She's been resting on a park bench all this time, only leaving it to get macaroni and cheese at the food bank, but now, she needs to get to a women's shelter before it closes. It's around eight at night, she guesses, the time Maritza and Raiza would usually meet her. She keeps imagining her girls rounding the corner any second now, laughing together and then gleefully calling her name just before hugging her. Blanca had looked for them until it got dark, but with no luck. She's emotionally and physically exhausted.
It hasn't even been twenty-four hours yet, but she's growing delirious. She can almost hear them in her head and see them every time a shadow passes her, but it's only because she's thinking so much about them. "Mis bebés, las extraño mucho..." she mumbles to herself wearily. "Diablo, sálvanos, por favor..." She watches the ground as she walks slowly out of Central Park. The puddles slosh around her and tears leak out of her eyes, mixing with the ice-cold rain landing on her face and soaking her hair and clothes. "Tengo tanto miedo y frío..." A sob escapes her, and then another. Her jacket is waterproof, but the raindrops seep through her jeans and make her shiver. "Me estoy rompiendo por dentro, ya no puedo hacer esto..."
My babies, I miss you so much...Diablo, save us, please...I'm so scared and cold....I'm breaking inside, I can't do this anymore...
She's now hit the point of depression.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, Juliette45 and A Star in My Universe! Congrats Caitlin for being reviewer #150!